15 Jan 2017

The first visit to explore the Okavango Delta using a traditional canoe was a great experience for the 50-year-old Ms Dianah Polao of Maun.
She found the beauty and excitement of the watery paradise captivating.

Ms Polao recalls the day she travelled to Morutsha settlement with some friends on Christmas Eve to traverse the delta and how watching a group of elephants drinking and jostling for positions by the river bank from an inch away was great fun.

What really caught her attention was watching women transporting tourists with traditional mokoro only to make ends meet, which experience opened her eyes to try her luck into the industry.

In an interview, Ms Polao said operating a mokoro was not only interesting, but also easier than she initially expected.

Since her efforts to find a permanent job were unsuccessful, she tryed her luck in 2005 and venture into the business.

“I was very lucky to be trained by an experienced guide named Mr Tshameko Boitshwarelo, who was very patient and willing to ensure that I get the right skills,” she said.

The mother of 12 said although it was scary, she had to be strong until her training was complete.

She narrates how the guide took her to short trips to gauge her experience and that way she learnt how to paddle the canoe, adding that the guide put emphasis on the safety of passengers.

Ms Polao revealed that immediately after she completed her training, she bought a canoe for a cow because she was eager to apply her skills and complement her husband’s budget as he was the only breadwinner in the family.

The next step was to register and acquire a license as per the Department of Wildlife and National Parks requirements for local mekoro polers and guides.

She said acquiring a certificate was meant for security reasons in case an accident occured.

Since Ms Polao did not go far academically, she was interviewed orally in order to be issued with a license, which interview she passed.

Before she ventured into the mokoro business, she used to sell fat cakes by the mokoro park station at Morutsha and since she started in the mokoro industry.

She explained that life at home became better by day as she managed to buy school uniforms for her children and provide food for the family.

Although she described the business as risky, it is profitable. She noted how passion and patience added to the success of the business.

“This business needs someone who is ready to learn new things and communicate fluently.”

She narrated that the business requires someone who is brave and understands the environment fully as the delta is home to anumber of dangerous animals.

She said as a guide ‘you are supposed to have a detailed knowledge of the delta habitants, all animals’ behaviour, be an excellent mind reader and above all remain alert all the time’.

She further stated that polers respect the environment as they want to maintain the beauty and the natural look of the heritage site to ensure sustainability, adding that they try by all means to perform their tourism activities in an acceptable manner to ensure no harm to the environment.

Ms Polao said since the business is seasonal, it gives one an opportunity to carryout other economic activities such as harvesting grass for sale.

Since she ventured into the business, she reveals that she is exposed to interacting with different nationalities, hence the opportunity to learn new things.

In a recent interview, the Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust manager, Mr John Nyamurundira confirmed that the communities in the delta were using the natural resources to sustain their lives.

He said the locals have ventured into some tourism activities, citing the traditional canoe business in their concession of NG32, where the famous meroko are found.

He also pointed out that they have a booking system, which coordinates all the mekoro stations in the area, noting that different tour operators and tourists book through their main office in Maun.

Mr Nyamurundira noted that local  polers and guides also offer their guiding services/traditional guiding skills at affordable prices to allow more people to enjoy the delta. BOPA